NCJ Number
204118
Journal
Journal of Contemporary Criminal Justice Volume: 20 Issue: 1 Dated: February 2004 Pages: 6-32
Editor(s)
Chris Eskridge
Date Published
February 2004
Length
27 pages
Annotation
This study examined the effectiveness of the public policies and programs designed to reduce crime in Knoxville’s public-housing developments.
Abstract
Crime in Knoxville’s public housing is an ongoing problem for the Knoxville Police Department (KPD) and the Knoxville Community Development Corporation (KCDC) which is an independent corporation that manages all of Knoxville’s public housing. The policies intended to control crime in Knoxville’s public housing are representative of law enforcement trends nationwide. This study attempted to examine whether public policies and programs established to reduce crime in seven Knoxville public housing developments were effective. These seven public housing developments included: Western Heights, Montgomery Village, Austin Homes, Walter P. Taylor Homes, Christenberry Heights, Lonsdale Homes, and College Homes. Policies and programs examined included: (1) a “One-Strike” eviction policy; (2) the demolition of one housing project with funding from the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Hope VI grant program; (3) a team-based approach to policing; and (4) a new residency-applicant screening process. The research in this study was conducted in two stages: (1) the collection of information about the changes in public policies and programs that have occurred Knoxville since the late 1980's to control crime in public housing and (2) the compilation of descriptive statistics based on individual crime incident data from 1996 to 2001 for the City of Knoxville. A conclusion was drawn that the combination of disadvantaged residents and the physical nature of Knoxville’s public housing may create an environment conducive to crime that no amount of policy or programmatic change can alter. Appendices A-C and references